● Akram Khan Company presents Kaash, originally premiered at Southbank Centre ​ ​ ​ in 2002 and revived in tribute to Ravi Shankar; ● London Philharmonic Orchestra performs Ravi Shankar’s final work, the opera ​ Sukanya in January 2020, and his only Symphony in April 2020; ​ ​ ​ ● Sitarist and composer Anoushka Shankar features as a Southbank Centre ​ ​ Associate Artist throughout the 2019/20 season; ● BFI Southbank screens a selection of films scored by Ravi Shankar, curated by Anoushka Shankar; ● An exhibition featuring significant archive objects belonging to Ravi Shankar on display from April 2020 in the Royal Festival Hall Archive Studio; ● A specially-commissioned film to be displayed in Royal Festival Hall’s public spaces and online, featuring archive footage and interviews with contemporary artists who have been influenced by Ravi Shankar’s work; ● Interactive music workshops and performances for primary schools; ● Plus more programming to be announced. Sukanya Shankar comments: “The centenary celebrations for my husband by the ​ ​ Southbank Centre will bring back some of the magic I have experienced at all the concerts of this amazing musician!” Anoushka Shankar comments: “I feel deeply grateful to be able to begin celebrations of my ​ ​ late father’s centenary year with a series of special events at London’s Southbank Centre, before we continue the celebrations in various cities worldwide. It feels ambitious to the point of being unrealistic, to somehow put together anything that can fully showcase all the varied aspects of his incredible career, creativity, musicianship and humanity. However with the multiplicity of events that Southbank Centre is putting on, we may stand a chance!” Akram Khan comments: “Pandit-Ji is one of the most iconic artists to have come out of ​ ​ India, and one that has truly inspired many generations of music and dance lovers all around the world. “As a child, I remember being entranced by his music, to the point where it had left a deep impression in me, and it still resonates with me today. The way I approach music, the way I hear music, has very much the echo of his influence on me. “And to now bring back Kaash – which was my first full-length ensemble work that premiered ​ ​ at Southbank Centre so many years ago – not only feels like a full circle, but feels deeply connected to my admiration and respect that I have for Pandit-Ji, who in hindsight, was the early architect of my emotions in the dance I dance.” Gillian Moore CBE, Director of Music, Southbank Centre, comments: "From his debut ​ ​ Royal Festival Hall performance in 1958 to the premiere of Symphony in 2010, Ravi Shankar ​ ​ shared the power and energy of his musicianship with countless listeners here at Southbank Centre. It is a huge honour to present Shankar 100, a year celebrating this great artist and ​ ​ human being and his incomparable contribution to the world." Ravi Shankar’s daughter, Sitar player and composer Anoushka Shankar, takes a central ​ ​ role in celebrations as a new Southbank Centre Associate Artist. Her dynamic and spiritual musicality has garnered prestigious accolades, including six Grammy Award nominations, recognition as the youngest – and first female – recipient of a British House of Commons Shield, credit as an Asian Hero by TIME Magazine, and a Songlines Best Artist Award. On the anniversary of Ravi Shankar’s birth (7 Apr 2020), Anoushka Shankar and her sister, ​ ​ ​ ​ the nine time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter & pianist Norah Jones, lead a gala ​ ​ event spanning their father’s multi-genre work, including Indian classical music, East-West collaborations and songs from films. They are joined by friends and special guests including Nitin Sawhney and Olivia Harrison, with more names to be announced. ​ ​ ​ Anoushka Shankar returns later in the month for a performance of Ravi Shankar’s Symphony, reuniting with London Philharmonic Orchestra 10 years after they gave the ​ ​ ​ world premiere of the work in 2010 (22 Apr 2020). She also joins forces with the BFI to ​ curate a selection of films scored by Ravi Shankar which will be shown at the BFI Southbank in April 2020. London Philharmonic Orchestra features earlier in the anniversary year, when they present a semi-staged performance of Ravi Shankar’s final work, his only opera Sukanya, inspired by ​ ​ his wife and stories from the Indian epics. With libretto by Amit Chaudhuri, Sukanya, ​ ​ ​ ​ featuring Susannah Hurrell in the title role, is conducted by David Murphy, who worked ​ ​ ​ ​ closely with Ravi Shankar and completed the opera with the help of Anoushka Shankar. Direction is by Suba Das with Gauri Diwakar as choreographer (15 Jan 2020). The ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Orchestra is then joined by conductor Zubin Mehta and Anoushka Shankar for a ​ ​ ​ ​ November concert; more details to be announced in the new year. 2020 also marks 20 years since Akram Khan co-founded his eponymous dance company, ​ ​ and the return to Southbank Centre of his work Kaash. The original piece premiered in ​ ​ ​ Queen Elizabeth Hall in 2002 and marked the Company’s first full-length production: Akram Khan enlisted visual artist Anish Kapoor and composer Nitin Sawhney to create a work inspired by “Hindu Gods, black holes, Indian time cycles, tablas, creation and destruction”. It was then reborn five years ago as Kaash (Revival), and returns to the QEH as part of the ​ ​ ​ ​ Shankar 100 centenary celebrations for an exclusive four-show run (22-25 May 2020). ​ In September 2020, Darbar returns to Southbank Centre and curates SitarFest, a three-day ​ ​ festival showcasing today’s finest sitar masters, inspired by the legacy of Pandit Ravi Shankar. Alongside the performances, Shankar 100 features free events across the public spaces. ​ ​ These include: an archive exhibition showcasing rarities from Shankar’s rich history of ​ ​ Royal Festival Hall performances alongside original items from the Shankar family archives, revealing glimpses of the man behind the music (RFH Archive Studio, from 7 April 2020); a specially-commissioned film featuring archive footage and interviews with contemporary ​ artists who have been influenced by Ravi Shankar’s work; and a Schools Day comprising ​ ​ interactive music workshops and performances for primary schools (9 June 2020). The centenary of Ravi Shankar’s birth will also see the publication of Oliver Craske’s ​ biography Indian Sun:The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar (published by Faber on 2 April ​ ​ 2020). Further events for Southbank Centre’s Shankar 100 celebrations to be announced in the ​ ​ new year. #ENDS# Tickets for Ravi Shankar Centenary and Kaash will go on sale to Southbank Centre ​ ​ ​ ​ Members on Wednesday 13 November and to the general public on Thursday 14 November at www.southbankcentre.co.uk / 020 3879 9555. ​ ​ Press Images available to download HERE ​ For further press information and interview requests please contact: Naomi Burgoyne, Senior Press Manager [email protected] / 020 ​ ​ 7921 0919 OR Alexandra Shaw, Press Officer [email protected] / 020 7921 0676 ​ ​ For press ticket requests, please contact: Alex Kemsley, Press Assistant: [email protected] / 020 7921 0888 ​ ​ ​ Join the Conversation: @southbankcentre #shankar100 NOTES TO EDITORS About Southbank Centre Southbank Centre is the UK’s largest arts centre, occupying a 17 acre site that sits in the midst of ​ London’s most vibrant cultural quarter on the South Bank of the Thames. The site has an extraordinary creative and architectural history stretching back to the 1951 Festival of Britain. Southbank Centre is home to the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room and Hayward Gallery as well as the National Poetry Library and the Arts Council Collection. It’s also home to four Resident Orchestras - the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, London Sinfonietta and Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment - as well as four Associate Orchestras - Aurora Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, Chineke! Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. For further information please visit www.southbankcentre.co.uk ​ EVENT LISTINGS SUKANYA Wednesday 15 January 2020, 7.30pm, Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, £14 - £65 London Philharmonic Orchestra; David Murphy conductor; Susanna Hurrell soprano, ​ ​ ​ ​ Sukanya; Alok Kumar tenor, Chyavana; Jonathan Lemalu baritone, King Sharyaati; Michel de ​ ​ ​ ​ Souza baritone, Aswini Twin 1; Njabulo Madlala baritone, Aswini Twin 2; Synergy Vocals; Suba ​ ​ ​ ​ Das director; Gauri Diwakar choreographer ​ ​ ​ The Royal Festival Hall plays host to the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s semi-staged performance of Ravi Shankar’s Sukanya, two and a half years after the orchestra premiered the opera to universal ​ ​ critical acclaim. Taken from the famous Sanskrit texts of the Mahabharata, Sukanya sees a pair of ​ ​ gods oversee and meddle in an unlikely union between the beautiful princess Sukanya and an ancient sage. The opera is expertly choreographed to combine traditional Indian instruments, a Western orchestra, solo performers and a dance ensemble. BOOK LAUNCH ‒ INDIAN SUN: THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF RAVI SHANKAR ​ ​ Thursday 2 April 2020, Weston Roof Pavilion at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall (Invitation only) The launch of INDIAN SUN: The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar, the first full biography of Ravi ​ ​ Shankar. Author Oliver Craske paints a vivid portrait of India’s great musician and his extraordinary life across 92 years. RAVI SHANKAR